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| REVIEW ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2009 | Volume
: 55
| Issue : 2 | Page : 143-149 |
Targeting connexin 43 in diabetic wound healing: Future perspectives
S Bajpai1, VK Shukla2, K Tripathi3, S Srikrishna1, RK Singh1
1 Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi - 221 005, India
2 Department of Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi - 221 005, India
3 Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi - 221 005, India
| Date of Submission | 30-Jul-2008 |
| Date of Decision | 28-Dec-2008 |
| Date of Acceptance | 15-Jan-2009 |
| Date of Web Publication | 23-Jun-2009 |
Correspondence Address:
R K Singh
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi - 221 005
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0022-3859.48786
The unknown mechanisms of impaired tissue repair in diabetes mellitus are making this disease a serious clinical problem for the physicians worldwide. The lacuna in the knowledge of the etiology of diabetic wounds necessitates more focused research in order to develop new targeting tools with higher efficacy for their effective management. Gap-junction proteins, connexins, have shown some promising results in the process of diabetic wound healing. Till now the role of connexins has been implicated in peripheral neuropathy, deafness, skin disorders, cataract, germ cell development and treatment of cancer. Recent findings have revealed that gap junctions play a key role in normal as well as diabetic wound healing. The purpose of this review is to provide the information related to etiology, epidemiology, clinical presentation of diabetic wounds and to analyze the role of connexin 43 (Cx43) in the diabetic wound healing process. The current control strategies and the future research challenges have also been discussed briefly in this review.
Keywords: Connexin-43, diabetes, diabetic wound, gap-junction proteins
How to cite this article:
Bajpai S, Shukla V K, Tripathi K, Srikrishna S, Singh R K. Targeting connexin 43 in diabetic wound healing: Future perspectives. J Postgrad Med 2009;55:143-9 |
How to cite this URL:
Bajpai S, Shukla V K, Tripathi K, Srikrishna S, Singh R K. Targeting connexin 43 in diabetic wound healing: Future perspectives. J Postgrad Med [serial online] 2009 [cited 2023 Jun 1];55:143-9. Available from: https://www.jpgmonline.com/text.asp?2009/55/2/143/48786 |
The process of wound healing is a synchronized and magnificently coordinated interplay of several cellular and biochemical components. The precise and optimum response of various inflammatory elements and growth factors is essentially required during the normal wound healing process. In case of diabetes this synchronization is interrupted due to several extrinsic (high glucose level, oxidative stress) as well as intrinsic (cytokines, pro-apoptotic molecules like bim, bad, bax, bak and anti-apoptotic molecules viz. bcl-2, bcl-xL) factors, which in turn result in delayed wound healing. [1] Research conducted so far is mainly confined to the area of controlling the microbial infections through the use of modified dressings, growth factors, combinations of antibiotics and few other recently developed techniques that will be discussed later. The increasing incidence of diabetic wound patients impels us to search for causal factors, and design new therapeutic strategies to combat this emerging issue.
The current research regarding the identification and characterization of the connexin gene family has led to the discovery of a variety of inherited human diseases that result from mutations in these genes. [2],[3] These findings emphasize the importance of gap junctions in the normal functioning of the cells. Connexins are the structural gap-junction proteins that form channels for exchange of small molecules between connected cells. The cells efficiently utilize these gap junctions for electrical synapse and sharing of intracellular metabolites that coordinate various metabolic events. The role of gap junctions in tissue reactions, and its potential to damage or heal the wounds, has been widely debated and discussed by researchers and clinicians worldwide. [4] Studies conducted in animals as well as humans have drawn special attention towards gap junctions due to the fact that connexins (especially Cx43 and Cx26) play a crucial role in the wound healing process. [5] This review opens new approaches for understanding the etiology, epidemiology along with clinical features, new treatment strategies and last but not the least, a new panorama of gap junction proteins with special reference to the role of Cx43 in diabetic wound healing.
| :: Epidemiology and Etiology | |  |
Rapid urbanization, sedentary lifestyle and imbalanced/ junk foods are the major factors for increased prevalence of diabetes today. A study including all age groups worldwide estimated about 2.8% prevalence of diabetes in the year 2000 and it is expected to rise up to 4.4% by the year 2030. [6] Nearly ten countries are estimated to have highest number of people suffering from diabetes in 2000 with India, China and the US occupying the top three positions, which appears to remain unchanged till 2030. [6] Moreover, there is a gross under-reporting of the current epidemiological data in developing countries. Recently, a diabetic awareness campaign launched by a few non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the northern part of India revealed that about 20-25% of the population has significantly increased blood sugar levels (unpublished data). The clinical complications of diabetes like neuropathy, nephropathy, cardiac myopathy and retinopathy are also significantly increasing. [7],[8],[9] Diabetic ulcers are generally neuropathic in nature, though a few ischemic and neuroischemic cases contribute to the list. [10] It is now clear that there is about 25% lifetime risk of occurrence of diabetic foot ulcers in patients suffering from diabetes, [11] and in every 30 sec the lower limb of a person is amputated because of this fatal disease in the world. [12]
Diabetic ulcers are endemic in the rural areas of developing countries like India. This would be attributed to illiteracy, lack of health consciousness and poor health amenities. [13] In these countries, walking barefoot is a major risk factor for an increased prevalence of diabetic foot ulcers. Notwithstanding, intensive prevention and care can reduce the incidence of ulcers by 25%, but cost-effective and optimum preventive measures are yet to be explored. [14] Moreover, acute diabetic wounds have their impact on the socioeconomic life of the people and greatly reduce their working efficiency.
In the context of unclear etiology of diabetic wounds, it is essential to mention that factors like impaired glucose metabolism, [15] hampered migration of fibroblast cells to the wound site, [16] prolonged inflammation, decreased growth factors like platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), [17] keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), [18] enhanced protease activity, [19] essentially upregulated microbial activity, [20] endothelial cell apoptosis [1] and abnormal connexins expression [21] together play a very significant role in the process of wound healing in diabetes.
| :: Clinical Presentation | | |
Diabetic ulcers are essentially characterized by delayed contraction of the wound, hampered migration of fibroblast cells to the wound site, [16] reduced deposition of extracellular matrix, [22] reduced collagen synthesis, abnormal functioning of neutrophils and decreased number of macrophages. [23] Further, the reduced expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 (VEGFR-3), along with its ligands VEGFR-C and VEGFR-D, lead to poor lymphatic vessel formation that eventually delays the healing process in diabetic wounds. [24] Diabetic wounds are also characterized by decreased levels of various growth factors like platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factor (TGF-β), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). [23],[25] However, the main obstacle in wound healing is impairment of blood flow that results in oxygen deficiency and delayed migration of fibroblast cells to the wound site resulting in delayed tissue remodeling at the wound site. [16] The expression levels of various matrixmetalloproteinases (MMPs) have been found to be elevated in diabetic wounds, impairing the rate of diabetic wound healing by the destruction of extracellular matrix, but the underlying molecular mechanisms for their decreased or increased production are yet to be resolved. [19],[26]
| :: Therapeutic Options and Novel Approaches | | |
Due to an unclear etiology, the treatment options for diabetic wounds are far from satisfactory. However, recent advances have provided newer understandings to manage diabetic wounds. A few FDA-approved advanced dressing materials like sodium carboxyl-methyl-cellulose, alginate and semi-permeable polymeric membrane dressings, [27] are being used topically for the management of diabetic wounds. Several other modified dressing materials like biocompatible wound dressings made of gelatin containing epidermal growth factor, [28] protease-modulating matrixes combined with autologous growth factors, [29] recombinant human acidic fibroblast growth factor impregnated in chitosan cross-linked collagen sponge (CCCS/FGF), [30] polyhydrated ionogen (formulation of metallic ions and citric acid) have also been reported to be beneficial in early wound closure of diabetic wounds. [31]
Although new treatments for diabetic wound are being introduced, their efficacy and safety are not optimal and require further improvement. The applications of various growth factors have been found to accelerate the wound healing process significantly in diabetic conditions. [32],[33] The topical application of PDGF, [33] nerve growth factor (NGF), [34] recombinant human-VEGF, [35] recombinant human epidermal growth factor (REGEN- D TM 50), [36] diphenyhydantoin sodium, [37] chrysalin-a thrombin peptide, [38] aminated beta 1,3-D glucan, [39] talactoferrin alpha-a recombinant human lactoferrin [40] and a few metal ions like copper ions [41] have been proved to elicit a substantial healing effect in diabetic wounds in human and animal models. However, only PDGF and its analogues are approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) for human use.
The intralesional/subcutaneous or intraperitoneal injections of citoprot-P containing recombinant human EGF, [42] dalteparin-a low molecular weight heparin compound, [43] simvastatin, [44] bioactive lipids like sphingosine-1 phosphate [45] and lipid-lowering agents like statins [46] have been found to enhance the rate of angiogenesis in the diabetic wound healing process in human and other experimental models. Similarly, the oral administration of L-arginine, the substrate for nitric oxide synthesis, and nitric oxide itself have a substantial role in increasing the rate of angiogenesis and collagen deposition thereby enhancing the rate of diabetic wound healing. [47],[48],[49]
In addition, several other novel approaches like biocompatible nanofibers impregnated with recombinant human epidermal growth factor (EGF), [50] biotinylated glycyl-histidyl-lysyl (GHK) incorporated collagen matrices, [51] HMGB-1 (high mobility group box 1 protein), [52] IGF-1(insulin-like growth factor-1), [53] endothelin-1 (a key signaling protein) [54] and stromal derived growth factor-alpha (SDF-1α) [55] have proved to accelerate the rate of re-epithelization, granular tissue formation, eventually leading to increased rate of diabetic wound healing.
In spite of the significant development in wound research the lack of efficacy, reliability and compatibility of these formulations remains a major drawback in the management of diabetic wounds. Most of the current studies are still under evaluation and limited to experimental conditions. Impaired cell-to-cell signaling, prolonged inflammatory responses and cellular apoptosis are the major features associated with diabetic wounds and in this context, a detailed investigation of the underlying role of gap-junction proteins in regulation of these events is urgently required.
| :: Emerging Role of Cx43 in Diabetic Wound Healing | | |
A new era of wound healing research has emerged with the discovery of involvement of gap-junction proteins in normal and diabetic wound healing processes. Gap junctions are intercellular junctions containing hydrophilic membrane channels that allow direct communication between neighboring cells through the diffusion of ions, metabolites and cell-signaling molecules. These junctions are tightly packed in hexagonal array termed connexon, which is made up of six connexin protein subunits [Figure 1]. These channels mediate various cell-to-cell communications that are essential for regulation of cellular growth, differentiation, development as well as apoptosis. These proteins have also been implicated in many human diseases like cardiovascular, peripheral neuropathy, skin disorders and cataract. Connexins are found in vertebrates while their functional homologues, innexins are identified in invertebrates. [56] In humans more than 20 connexins are expressed [57] and of these the Cx43 is abundantly expressed in keratinocytes, [58] dermal fibroblasts, [59] vascular system, [60],[61] skin appendages, [62] macrophages, neutrophils and mast cells. [63] It plays a key role in cellular communication to maintain tissue homeostasis and angiogenesis. [64]
In normal rodents and humans there is a natural down-regulation of Cx43 and an up-regulation of Cx26 and Cx30 in keratinocytes at the wound edges. [58],[65],[66] The down-regulation of Cx43 further results in increased levels of TGF-β, collagen α-1 and decreased levels of chemokine ligand-2, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and reduced infiltration of neutrophils, macrophages at the wound site [Figure 2]. The down-regulation of Cx43 also promotes rapid angiogenesis, enhanced fibroblast migration and keratinocyte proliferation leading to earlier wound contraction and faster wound closure. [67] However, the complete silencing of Cx43 transcripts using antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (asODNs) at wound sites result in faster wound closure with reduced inflammation and scar formation. It is also reported that the rate of re-epithelization and granulation at the wound site is enhanced by 47%, 55%, and 27% during Day 1, 2 and 4, respectively using Cx43 asODN treatment as compared to sense-treated controls. [68]
It is now well established that the Cx43 is abnormally expressed and dynamically regulated in intact skin including the dermis, epidermis and granular tissues in diabetic and chronic wounds in comparison with normal wounds and its down-regulation significantly enhances the rate of wound healing in diabetic conditions. [21],[65] Hence, a thorough understanding of the expression and turnover profiles of connexins in general and Cx43 in particular is required for formulating newer strategies for effective control of diabetic wounds.
| :: Correlation of Connexin 43 with Cellular Apoptosis | | |
Several studies have shown that there is an increased endothelial cell apoptosis in the case of diabetic wounds. [69],[70] The optimal activity of connexin hemichannels is required for normal physiological functions of the cell but its prolonged and uncontrolled activities can potentially lead to cell death. [71] This fact was reinforced by some prominent studies which showed that continuous opening of hemichannels formed by Cx43 induces cell death in nervous tissue during ischemia. [72] It was also predicted that ions and toxic molecules like nitric oxide (NO), superoxide (O 2- ), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD + ), present in higher concentrations in the injured cells, could be transported from injured to normal cells leading to propagation of cell death. [72] Recently it has been observed that the altered Cx43 expression in cardiac ventricles resulted in myocyte apoptosis causing tissue injury and post-ischemic cardiac dysfunction. [71],[73] In case of cerebral ischemia also, the dying glial cells kill the neighboring cells by exporting cell death components via the gap junctions leading to amplified cell injury. [74]
The combinatorial role of Cx43 and gap junctional intercellular communications (GJIC), has been implicated in the propagation of apoptosis. It has been observed that a Cx43-mediated inhibition of GJIC leads to decreased apoptosis in rat bladder carcinoma cell lines (BC-31 cells). Further, it is predicted that various oncogenes like v-Ha-ras, v-raf, v-src and v-fps down-regulate GJIC that eventually results in decreased apoptosis. [57] Therefore, the up-regulation of GJIC might promote apoptosis of cancer cells. [75] Additionally, the Cx43-linked apoptosis has also been shown to be mediated through down-regulation of bcl-2, a anti-apoptotic factor, in human glioblastoma cells. [76] Further, recent evidences suggest that Cx43 along with other connexins might have additional functions, which could be important in cell death or survival by mechanisms which could be independent of cell to cell communication. [77] However, the Cx43-mediated apoptosis of endothelial and other cells in diabetic wounds is yet to be elucidated.
| :: Factors Affecting Gap Junctional Gating and Cx43 Regulation | | |
The gating or opening of gap junctional channels allows various apoptotic and inflammatory signals between cells eventually leading to increased endothelial cell apoptosis and delayed wound contraction in diabetes. Gating of gap junction channels is generally affected by calcium ion concentration, [78] pH, [79] transjunctional membrane potential [80],[81] and protein phosphorylation. [82],[83] An increased calcium ion concentration and decreased intracellular acidification (pH) results in closure of gap junction channels. [78],[79] Further, the decreased expression and phosphorylation of Cx43 by protein kinase C leads to an inhibition in cell-cell coupling, which may lead to blockage in the passage of various inflammatory and apoptotic signals resulting in early healing of diabetic wounds. [56]
The Cx43 is also known to be regulated by various factors like glucose, [84] , nitric oxide, [85] and growth factors like FGF, [86] TGF-β, [87] EGF, [88] PDGF, [89] nerve growth factor, [90] ATP, [91] and few cytokines like TNF-α and IFN-γ[92] though the precise molecular mechanisms by which they regulate Cx43 is not fully understood. However, all these factors contribute significantly in wound healing, and therefore, their effective management could lead to faster wound healing in diabetic patients.
| :: Cx43-Mediated Inflammatory Response | | |
The Cx43 is expressed by most of the immunocompetent cells including macrophages, neutrophils, mast cells and lymphocytes. [93] It is also expressed along with Cx40 in polymorphonuclear cells under inflammatory conditions in humans. [94] The increased expression of Cx43 has shown to increase the levels of various inflammatory and immunomodulatory molecules like interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), TGF-β in co-cultured endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells. [95] During the development of atheroma in case of low-density-lipoprotein-deficient mice and human atherosclerotic plaques, a redistribution of Cx43 along with Cx37 and Cx40 occurs in the arterial wall suggesting the role for connexins in inflammatory responses. [96] The growing incidence of involvement of connexins in relation with gap junctions in inflammatory responses in normal wound tissues strongly suggests a key functional role of these candidates in diabetic wound healing processes.
| :: Concluding Remarks and Future Research Challenges | | |
Diabetic wound healing is a complicated process and requires the superfine coordinated activity of several cell types and mechanisms. The traditional approaches to combat diabetic wounds are not very efficient. The exact molecular mechanisms that delay diabetic wound healing largely remain to be elucidated. Most of the studies conducted so far have been confined to intracellular signaling pathways but tissue remodeling also essentially involves intercellular communication through gap junctions. The effect of different hypoglycemic drugs, few cytokines and reactive oxygen species on regulation of connexin expression, in general, needs to be explored in cells like endothelial, fibroblasts and macrophages in diabetic wounds. In addition, the precise mechanisms of Cx43 expression either in endothelial cells or leukocytes, which regulate various inflammatory responses in diabetic wounds, are a subject of future investigations. Therefore, intensive research is required to explore the novel mechanisms linked to gap junction communication in order to design newer treatment strategies for cost-effective management of diabetic wounds.
The initiative of elimination of diabetic ulcers itself raises several questions regarding the therapeutic implementation in the near future [Box 1]-[Additional file 1]. This initiative also includes some multidisciplinary management programs for diabetic wounds, which includes care for all the people who are at the risk of diabetic ulcers. The research investments are the need of present era to fill the lacuna in the wound research with some novel approaches and therapeutic compounds/drugs [Box 2]-[Additional file 2]. In spite of this, sincere commitments will be required for implementation of diabetic ulcer eradication programs to benefit the common man of the society.
| :: Acknowledgment | | |
Authors are highly thankful to Dr. H. P. Pandey, Professor of Biochemistry and Dr. A. Khanna, Reader, Department of English, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi for their support in reviewing this manuscript. The financial assistance extended by the Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi is highly acknowledged.
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